Converter punching machine



Jill 13123, 1935. o. A. OLMSTEAD 2,008,795

. CONVERTER PUNCHING' MACHINE Filed May 9, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Q/l. U/msfeqd ATTO NEY July 23, 1935. 0A. OLMSTEAD CONVERTER PUNCHING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Shed 2 Filed May 9, 1951 INVENTOR BY a AQ/Wffld fl v July 23, 1935. o. A. OLMSTEAD 2,008,795

CONVERTER PUNCHING JVIACHINE Filed May 9, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR A fl/rr/sTead TT NEY July 23, 1 935. 0, A. OLMSTEAD 2,008,795

CONVERTER PUNCHING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 1H vENToR y 23, 1935. o. A. OLMSTEAD 2,008,795

CONVERTER PUNCHINGMACHINE I Filed May 9, 1931 l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 INV-ENTOR Y 0A O/msTead o. A. OLMSTEAD 2,008,795

CONVERTER PUNCHING .MACHINE July 23, 1935.

Filed May 9, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 E v a IIIIIIIIHIH INV EN TOR B UAO/mJfead July 23, 1935. o. A. OLMSTEAD 2,008,795

CONVERTER PUNCHI NG MACHINE Filed May 9,1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 A lNVENTQR GAO/07.57am! W z7-l by ar #7726; FF 2?. W. M Q J July 23, 1935. o. A. OLMSTEAD CONVERTER PUNCHING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 23, 1935. I o. A. OLMSTEAD 2,008,795

CONVERTER PUNCHING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 Patented July 23, 1935 v w H 03,795:

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVERTER PUNCHING MACHINE Uscar [1,01111576311, SaltLake CityfUtah Application May 9, 1931, serial No. 536,202" 18 Claims. (01; 266- 12) This invention relates to a mechanism for punching the tuyeres of converters used in metallurgical work, and has among its objects to devise a machine of the kind mentioned which successfully perform the operation of punching tuyeres,

of such converters is unimpeded, andto do this in Fig. 30;

heretofore done by hand, at a large saving over the cost for hand labor, which Will be of simple.

construction, and will be capable of working at the difierent angles necessitated by the tilting of the converter at varying loads in the course of the heat.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary assemblyview;

' Fig. 2 is a rear end elevational View, with repeti- 7 shown in Fig. 3, secured together to make a suffitive parts eliminated;

- Fig. 3 is an end elevational view;

Figs. 4 and5 are detail views'of a device for applying lime wash to; the punching bar;

Figs. 6,7, 8, and 9 are details of the bar guide and bar cleaning device; 1

Fig. 10 is an end view of a detachable modification, and Fig. 11 is a side View thereof; Fig. 12 is a plan view of a locking device of the detachable modification above mentioned;

Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively a bottom plan View and a sectional View on the line I8l 8,"Fig.

13,'of the lubricating pad; 1

' Figs. 15, 16, and 17 are respectively top plan view, side elevation, and end elevation of. the valve actuating cam; Figs. 18 and 19 are details of the rocker arm;

Fig.20 is a plan view of the head of the intake valve box, and Figs. 21 and 22 are sections thereof on the lines 2525 and 25-26 on said figure;

Fig. 23 is a. plan viewiof the head of the exhaust valve 'bo-x,.and Figs. 24 and 25 are sections thereof on the lines 28-28 and 2929 on said figure;

Fig. 26 is a top plan View of one of the valve. boxes, with a portion cut away to of the valveconstruction; Fig. 2''! is a section on the line 3|3l, Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 is a plan viewof a modification which uses but one cylinder;

Fig. 29 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits of the modificationshown in Fig. 28;, Fig. 30 is a side elevation of the last-mentioned modification, withlines showing the flow of air therein;

- Fig. 31 is an end view of parts which are shownv Figs. 32, 33, and 34 are details of the'rotary' valve used With this modification. The tuyeres of metallurgical converters must be kept open so that access of air to the interior it is necessary that the slag and other material which hardens at the inner ends of the tuyeres be broken away frequently. This is'at present done by men passing along the tuyeres and inserting bars into them wherewith the aforesaid showthe. details. and I3 to prevent movement of piston 8 toward materials are broken away. As the heat progresses the quantity of material in the converter decreases and. the converter must be rotated to keepthe surface of suchmaterial adjacentthe' tuyeres, and therefore any machine which isused to punchthe tuyeres must 'be capable of operating at any. angle from horizontal to as muchas sixty degrees fromhorizontal. The present invention was made to provide a device which can .operate under all conditions and positions of service. I I

A'supporting structure of any suitable kind is fixed to the converter shell I, in the present instance being made up of I-beams 2, 3, and 4, as- 15 ciently strong and rigid assemblyto support the mechanism so it will remain in proper position. On said structure are mountedficylinders 5 where-' of one is disposed opposite each tuyere l of the' up toone hundred pounds'per square inch, de-

pending upon the diameter of the cylinders used, is carried ina supply line I!) to the intake valve boxes ll, whence the said air passes through pipe [2 to the outer end of cylinder 5 to act on piston 8 to" cause bar-6 to move out of said cyl-.

inder 'to'punch tuyere l, and through pipe I3 to the inner endof said cylinder to retract bar 6. Check Valves M and I5 are placed in pipes 12 said pipe's from forcingair back therethrough. Retardation of said piston through compression of front thereof is prevented by exhaust valves in the valvebox l8 permitting such air to escapethrough pipes 16 and IT. The points of connection of said-exhaust pipes with said cylinder are somewhat spaced from the ends of said cylinder to provide an air cushion at the end of the stroke of bar 6, to prevent damaging of the heads of said cylinder through impact of said baragainst said heads; mechanical cushionslof suitable resilient material may be used in addition' if desired. The air from pipe. I! passes through the valve in box 18 and thence to the open air, but. that from pipe l6, which is on the return stroke of bar 6, is carried from the valve through pipe I Hi to apply a lime wash to' bar 6, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The valve system for controlling the how of air to and from the cylinders 5 is shown in Fig.

the retracting bar 6'.

1. The valves for inlet of air are enclosed in valve box II, while those for the exhaust of air from said cylinders are in box I8, the said boxes each containing the valves for a group of four cylinders, there being an intake valve and an exhaust valve for each end of each cylinder, making eight valves in each of said boxes.

Air is admitted from air supply line I tochamber I9 which is common to all the inlet valves for that group. As shown in" Fig; 1, the arrow lines to cylinder a. indicate the flow of air during the punching stroke of bar 6, while similar lines applied to cylinder 55 show the flow thereof on the return stroke of said-bar, the said lines being designated by the same numerals as the corresponding pipes, but with the addition of the subscript letter which used to designate the corresponding cylinder. The air flows from the said chamber through the port controlled by valve 20, through. pipe I2a and check valve Mo to the outer end of cylinder 5a, and the exhaust from the other end3of said cylr inder is moving through pipe I'Ia to. valve- 2'I whence it passes into the. atmosphere. On the. return stroke, illustrated on cylinder 5b, the air under operating pressure passes from valve 22 to the inner end of said cylinder 5bthrough pipe I31) and check valve I5b;. the exhaustfrom the outer end of said cylinder on this strokepasses' through pipe IBb. to. valve 23,. thence. through pipe 4b to pipe II5b which is filled. with: the lime wash above mentioned, the said. wash beingdriven by said exhaust air through. pipe I24b. to the guide I2'I where said wash is sprayedupon The. paths of. the air during the two strokes are shown on different: cylinders for the purpose of: clarity of. showing; but: it is to be understood. that but one: cylinder is in operation at a; time, and. the: flows of air shown on the cylinders 5a and. 5b. are consecuv tive in the same cylinder,v and: not. simultaneous. on two different cylinders- In actual operation,v the valves 2 25' are: respectively the valves whichxcontrol. the;. fiow' of air to and from the cylinder.- in during-: the

return stroke of piston. 8: in saidv cylinder, and.

valves 26 and 21- control. the fiow thereof during; the punching stroke of bar Sr in cylinder 5b.

The head 80 of boxes: II. is.- shown. in Figs. 20,

closure of chamber I9; for the exhaust valveshas aplurality of; trans-' verse partitions 82 so that it is divided: into:- as;

many separate chambers as. there-are: valves:

therein, with an aperture 63 leading intomeach' of said chambers.

As seen in Figs; 26 and'2'7, a gasket 84 is placed: under the head of each of. the valves and the stems thereof pass through guides $5,, with. a, spring 88 to hold said valvesanormallyclosed. Tappets 8T slidable in. guides 06 transmit the: movement of rocker arms 35' tothe stems. of valves. The exhaust air' passes: out through- 5' lateral ports 89.

an endless sprocket chainv 26 which-is; carried on.

sprocket wheels: 29 and 30,. or more; than. two if necessary, the latter having. connected to it' a pulley 3I which is driven. through belt 32 from. motor 33, though any suitable drive transmission may be substituted for the said: pulley and belt- Mounted on said chain is a cam 34 whereof the. forward end is laterally bevelled; as said cam is carried forward by movement. of' chain 28 it.

is drawn into contact with the rocker arms 35, which are pivotally mounted at one end and disposed so that an arm is moved into operative contact with the tappet of each valve by said cam, thereby opening the valves in their turns. It will be observed that an inlet valve and an exhaust valve are opened at the same time, so that air may escape from in front of the moving piston, as before set forth. In the position shown in Fig. 1 said cam has opened the Valves 20 and 2 I- for the punching stroke, but a moment later it will have passed said valves 20 and 2| and permitted them toclose, and will open valves 24 and 25 for the actuation of the piston on the return stroke. A short distance ahead of cam 34 is mounted. on chain 28. an absorbent pad 36, which is passed through oil pan 33 and saturated withxoil, and when thereafter said pad. is drawn between the ends of arms 35 it will smear said arms with oil,.as also the pivots of said arms, to prevent wear of said arms and pins. Chain 28 carriesv a lug 39 which operates an electric switch 40. and stops motor 33 when all the tuyres have been punched. A tensioning means to tighten chain 28 is operated by handwheel M to keep said chain properly taut by changing the position of sprocket 29.

Tank 42tcontains a mixture of lime and water tov be applied to bars 6 as they are retracted to prevent adhesion of material from within the,

converter to said bars, and said mixture is carried through pipe I20- to the pipe H8.

The device to guide the punching bar 6 infallibly into alinement with the tuyre and to clean off adhering slag or other matter from the interior. of the converter comprises a base plate I00 with up tanding flanges chords of the circle defined by the said base plate, each of said flanges having formed in it a; semircircular recess to receive the cylindrical housings I02 for the cleaning balls I03 and the springs I04 which holdv said balls in operative position. adjacent the aperture I05 in base plate I00- through which the bar 6 passes into the tuyre. mediate portion to fit said housing and flat end portions secured to the coacting flange IOI fixes said. housings in position. A cap I08 is attached to theouterend of each of said housings to hold springs. I104; under suitable pressure.

Thev balls I03 are formed with an equatorial belt. of hardened sharp-edged corrugations I09. Atright angles to this belt is a spindle I I0 which extends through the ball along a diameter; the said spindle is reduced at its ends and the said ends. are slidable in slots I II in housing I02. This manner of mounting the said balls insures that the belts of cutting edges will always be presented to the point of intersection of said belts if extended in a line inwardly. A washer I I2 is. placed beween. the end of the spring I04 and said spindle. As bar 6 moves in toward the tuyre the end of said bar contacts said balls and spreads them apart so that said bar passes between them and the cutting edges of corrugations I09 are applied to the bar as the balls roll over said bar. When the bar 6 is retracted the balls, in rolling over said bar, cut or chip off any slag or other matter which has adhered to said bar While it was in the converter. An aperture I. I3 is. formed in the cap of the lowermost housing I02 to permit any particles which are removed from the bar I06 and fall into said housing to drop through and so prevent the filling up of said housing with waste.

I0 I disposed as A strap I0'I having an arcuate inter To reduce to a minimum the adhesion of "slag to bar 6 the said bar is-coated with lime or other substance having a like effect as it is being withdrawn from the tuyere. This is done by causing the exhaust air from cylinders 5 on the return stroke of said bar to pass through pipe II4, which pipe is bent downwardlyas shown at H5 and connected to one 'side of T fitting II 6. Said fitting is also connected to pipe II! which extends upwardly and opens into a large pipe I I8 that extends the length of the machine and is partially filled with a suitable mixture of lime' in water, the level of which in pipe 8' is controlled by a valve operated by a ball float H9,

the said mixture being supplied to pipe I I8 from that extends past the longitudinal centerlinev of said pipe I I8, so that the mixture will not be spilled out when the machine is tipped due to the rotation of the converter. Pipe I 24 extends from fitting H6 to a point adjacent the end of the tuyere so that the lime mixture discharged from pipe I24 will be sprayed upon bar 6 while said bar is being retracted, and is formed with a down bent portion I25 adjacent its connection with T H6; this forms, in cooperation with the bent portion II5, a trap which willfill'with the lime mixture, and the quantity of said mixture in said trap will be blown outeach time the exhaust passes therethrough. The upper portions of the above-mentioned bent portions are above the level of the mixture in pipe I I8 so that there will not be a continuous flow of said mixture through pipe I24.

Base plate I99 is provided with a'bracket I26 which is adapted to receive tuyere I and lie along the lower side thereof, and is secured to the said tuyere by a coacting, strap across the upper side of the tuyre and is fixed to said bracket I26.

Striking of bar 6 against the'end of the tuyere is prevented by a hollow frusto-conical guide I 21 for said bar which is fixed to plate I00 on the side thereof facing bar 6 by means of arms I28, with the larger base of said guide facing bar 6. A

baffle I29 prevents bar 6 from striking the end,

of pipe I 24 which is preferably connected into guide I21 and also prevents the lime mixture from passing out the large endof said guide without being applied to said bar. The axis of guide I2! is alined with opening I05 in the plate I06 54 are carried by said supports 5I, each of said.

hangers terminating at its lower end in a conical portion wherein is formed an aperture 55 parallel to the axis of. the converter. The supports 5| are spaced a considerable distance apart, and between them are disposed conical members 56 similar to the conical portions on said hangers,

and similarly having apertures 5I therein. v

Each of the spaced parallel beams 58 carries a fitting 59 with a conical recess therein to coact-with'each'of the conicalmembers 56, said fittings having apertures therein to register with the apertures 51 in said fittings so that pins can be passed through said fittings and" said members 56 to'lock them together. In like manner,

beams 60 carry fittings 6| similar to fittings 59- to co-act with the conical portions on hangers 54 and to be locked thereto. The conical interfitting parts on the hangers and in the fittings areiemployedso that the accurate alignment of the parts carried by said beams with the tuyeres I may'be :rapidly accomplished after the said beams have been disconnected from the supports 52; Cylinders 5 are mounted on beams 60 so that the punching bars 6 therein will be-aligned with tuyeres I, and the boxes I8. which contain the valves to control the operation of bars 6 are carried on beams 58. All parts of the operating mechanism which are not necessary to clearness have been omitted from the figures relatingto the detachable modification for sake of simplicity and clearness in the drawings. Beams 58 and 60 are connected together by means of tie members 6I. f V

A system of pins for locking the parts together as above mentioned is shown in Fig. 12 .A suitable supporting and guiding framework 62 in which said locking pins are slidably mounted is provided. 'Rods 63 carry pins 64 for locking the-fittings6l to hangers 54, and rod 65 carries pins 66 for locking fittings 59 to members 56, both the rods and pins being slidable in said frame. Rod65 is extended to; be connected to a pivotally mounted lever 61 and rods'63 are connected to cross member 68 which is also connected to rod 65 whereby said rods and pins may be moved in either direction.

A rack 69 is disposed alongside converter 50 in such position that said converter can be rolled to cause conical members I0 to be received in the conical recesses in fittings II on said rack, where they are locked by causing pins I2 on rod I3 to pass through aligned apertures in said fittings and said memberslfl, rod 13 being actuatable by pivotally mounted lever I4 connected thereto. When it is desired to tap the metal from the converter 50 said converter is rolled so that members I0 are in fittings II, and lever I4 is actuated to move pins I2 to lock said members in said fittings, and lever 61 is moved to unlock members 56 from fittings 59 and hangers 54 from fittings 55, and the converter can then be rolled over in the other direction for tapping without having to carry the weight of the entire tuyere punching mechanism during such movement, and thus also eliminating the necessity of changing the position of the hoodabove the converter, as the said mechanism will remain on rack '69. 'After tapping is completed converter 56 can be rolled back to reconnect said mechanism to the converter, and through the use of the conical members and recesses all parts will be accurately positioned and ready for operation as soon as connected.

Operation Assuming that the mechanism has been assembled in position, withthe bars 6 in cylinders 5 properly'aligned with'the tuyeres I of the converter,that tank has been supplied with the lime wash, and that air supply line ID has been connected to a source'of compressed air, the operation of the machine is as follows:

Motor 33 is started, which drives sprocket wheel 36 and sets chain 28 in motion, and cam 34 is carried between the first pair of rocker arms 35; thus opening valve 20 to admi-tairto cyl-;

inder 5 through pipe. 12 to drive barliv outwards ly, and also opening valve 21 to permit theescape of air from said cylinder from in front of.-

the piston 8 through pipe I! tothe said valve 2l and thence out into the open air, but leaving-the air between the point where pipe ll communi cates with the interior of said cylinder and the front end of said cylinder to serve as an air cushv ion to check the momentum of bar B and its piston 8.

An instant thereafter cam 34 will-have passed to the next pair of arms 35 and will have opened valve 24 to admit air through pipe l3 to the front end of the said cylinder 5 to withdraw the bar 6 from the tuyere, and also valve 25 which permits escape of air from cylinder 5 as said piston moves back, the air thus driven from saidcylinder passing through pipe IE to valve 25,. whence it goes through pipe H4 to the trap-like down-=1 wardly bent portions I I5 and I25 which are filled. with the lime wash from large pipe H8;=forcing. out all the said wash which is in saiddown-bent,

portions through pipe I24 to guide I2Twheresaid wash is spread upon bar 6 as said bar is withdrawn from tuyere I. In this manner each one of the bars in the assembly of cylinders mounted to punch the tuyeres of a converter will be actu-s ated in turn by the passage of cam 34 between the arms 35 which actuate the valves thereof, first to move the bar in the punching stroke and then to retract said barfrom the tuyre until said cam has passed through the entire length of the assembly, when it is carried back to the starting .point by the continual travel of chain 28 and the cycle is repeated.

Oil pad 36 moves between arms 35 a short distance ahead of cam34 and smears said arms with oil so that they are well lubricated for the passage of said cam therebetween. The stems and tappets of the valves actuated by said arms may be lubricated by a suitable arrangement of wicks havinga portion contacting the said stems and tappets and the main body thereof dipping into oil in a reservoir. r I

As bars 6 move outwardly on the punching stroke they are guided into the tuyeres bythe hollow frusto-conical guides I21. In case of small changes in the position of the ends of the tuyres 1, due to temperature changes, the said bars will slide along the sloping inner surfaces ofsaid guides and into the tuyres, whereas; if suchguides are not provided and differences of posi:

tion of the ends of the tuyeres would, cause bars 6 to strike against said tuyeres, damage to both tuyeres and bars would result and probably to.

will exert sufiicientpressure on said balls so that the said cutting edges will be in effective contact;

with such bars and will chip off any material which may be adhering thereto. 1 V

In Figs. 28 to 34 is shown a modification which has but one cylinder 200 which travels along track 29! toeach tuyere in turn, said track being supported on a frame 202 which is fixed toconj verter shell;2ll3. r

- A crank-shaft 204 is driven by a gear 265 thereon. which meshes with a pinion 206 which is driven by amotor 201. Said cylinder is fixed to a chain 2% carried onsprockets 209 and 2H]. On said chain are blocks 2!: spaced the same distance apart as are said tuyeres, and a pusher arm'2l2 onsaid crank engages said blocks and pushes chain 208-forward a distance to move cylinder 20%! to another tuyere at each revolution of said crank-shaft. A two-way limit switch 2l3 isactuat ed by pin .2 I4 which turns off the current from electromagnet US, which magnet normally holds armature 216 andthe attached rod 211 towardsitself and keeps clutch 2i 8 inoperative, and permits spring 219 to draw said rod back so that clutch 218 becomes operative and drives gear 223 which is moved into engagement with gear'22l whensaid clutch is made operative as said gear 220'is connected to the same sleeve 222 as the movable plate of said clutch. Gear 22! is keyed to the shaft 223 on which sprocket 2H1 islk eyed and so. reverses the direction of movementof chain 208 and carriescylinder 236 back tothe starting point, where it is stopped by block 224 and on said chain actuating two-way switch 225 which turns. the current again through magnet 215, which draws rod 2|! over against the pull of spring 2l9, thus moving pivoted lever 226 that moves the movable plate of clutch 2M3 and disengages said plate and renders the said clutch again inoperative. A momentum brake 22'! is operatedby block 224, which sets said brake and prevents said cylinder from being carried beyond the first vtuyere by the movement of rotation of the motor. Magnetic brake 215 is carried by guide 'Z'Ifiand is so connected that when cylinder 200 is iiiposition to punch a tuyere said brake isdrawn against rail 20! and prevents movement of said cylinder during the punching. Guides 216 and 2 11 slide along under the upper flange of said rail and keep the cylinder 239 in an accurately horizontal position, and they are of sumcient length. that'the'y prevent any tendency of said cylinder to turn from its position at right angles. to said rail.

- Anarm 230 iscarried by rod 2 ll, said arm sloping upwardly from its free end, which said end is disposed below pusher arm 2l2, so that when rod 2 IT is drawn away from magnet 2 l 5 by spring 2 l9v said arm 230 will lift said pusher arm 2 52 so it willclear blocks 2| l and will not interfere with the, reverse movement of chain 208.

Drag brake 23| acts constantly upon shaft 223 to insure that the momentum of cylinder 20% will not carry said cylinder beyond the proper position for punching a tuyere, but will stop as soon as forward movement of' chain 288 ceases at the end of forward movement of pusher arm 2 i2.

Rotating plate 232 of a rotary valve 233 is carried on shaft 204, said plate having an air chamber 234 therein. One face of said plate is ground to form a tight fit with the stationary plate 235 of said valve. An aperture 235 leads from chamher 234 to said face of plate 232, adjacent the periphery of said plate, and a radially extending elongated recess 231, is formed in said face with its longer axis radially aligned with the said aperture. Holes 238, 239, and 24B are formed in fixed plate 235 toregister with aperture 236, and the radially outer. and inner ends, respectively, of recess 231, .to control flow of air during the punching stroke, and similarly disposed holes 238a, 239a, and 240a for the return stroke. Concentric segmental-arcuate depressions 242, 243,

and 244lead to said holes from both rotationalv directions so that said holes are in connection with aperture 236 and recess 23'! for a longer line of flow on Figure 28. The exhaust from the magnet 2l5 and motor 20! will both be on closed forward end of said cylinder during this stroke passes through pipe 246 to hole 239, recess 23'], and hole 240 whence it issues to the atmosphere through pipe 241. The air to move bar 6 on the return stroke passes through holes 238a and pipe 248 to the forward end of cylinder 200 where it acts upon piston 8 to drive bar 6 back, the exhaust fromthe back end of said cylinder passing through pipe 249, hole 239a, recess 231, hole 240a, and pipe 250 to the trap portion 25| which is filled with lime water wash from container 253, said wash being expelled from said portion throughpipe 252 and spread on bar 6, for the purpose heretofore set forth. Air for actuating bar 6 is introduced into chamber 234 by pipe 254, on which plate 232 is rotatable, and passes from said chamber through hole 236 to said cylinderas above indicated. It is to be noted that theoperation of bar 6 occurs during that half of the rotat ion of crank-shaft 204 when pusher H2 is being retracted andc'ylinder 200 is stationary.

The tuyeres are not all equally spaced,'as it is necessary to allow a sufficient distance between certain ones'thereof for bands or 'hoops around 'the converter. To allow for this unequal spacing additional blocks 255 are mounted on chain 208 at a distance from the ones immediately preceding equal to the excess of distance in such spacing of the tuyeres, so that it'requires two revolutions of crank-shaft 204 to move cylinder 200 between two tuyres on opposite sides of such hoops. Actuation of. bar 6 is prevented during the first of such two revolutions by securing a cam 256 to the side of chain 208 in the proper positionto move a spring controlled plunger 263 in a contact device 251 which closes a circuit through elctro-magnet 258 and draws armature 259 toward said magnet. Attached to said magnet is a bar carrying a rack 260 engaged with a segmental pinion 26! on the stem of a four-way valve 265, so that attraction of armature 259 rotates said valve to close completely the pipe 262 which supplies air under pressure for operating the bar 6. When cam 256 has passed plunger 263 the circuit through magnet 258 is broken and spring 264 draws rack 260 back so that valve 265 is opened. A like four-way valve 266 is actuated through rack 26! on rod 2!! engaged with segmental pinion 258 on said valve 266, so that as rod 2H is moved to engage the plates of clutch 2i 8 valve 266 is closed to prevent admission of air to cylinder 200 during the reverse movement of said cylinder back to the first of the tuyeresto be punched, it being obvious that the ports of the rotary valve mechanism must be in registry several times during such reverse movement.

Fig. 29 shows the wiring diagram of the limit switches 2I3 and 225 which control the movement of cylinder 200 and the manually operated switch 213 which the operator throws to govern the mechanism. Assuming that the switchesl2l3 and 225 are in the positions contacting pole'sj269 and 210, respectively, as shown in said figure,

After the last by engagement of pin 2l4 therewith; into contact with pole 21f; Inasmuch as blade 212 of manually operated switch 213 is positioned to close the circuit through pole 269 magnet 2I5 is on open circuit while motor 20lremains on closed circuit through-blade 2140f switch 273 closing the .notactuated during that time, and pusher arm 2| 2 isliftedup by arm 230 so said pusher arm ,clears blocks 2H and 255. At the end of the backward movement of said cylinder, switch 225 is actuated by block 224 so that switch 225 is moved into contact with pole 215', and both motor, 201 and magnet 2l5 are onopen circuits. When it is desired to start punching again the operator throws switch 213 so that blades 212 and 214 thereof oocupythe dotted line positions and both said-motor and said magnet are again actuated, starting said motor, and attracting armature 2 l6 so that clutch 2 l 8 is disengaged and valve 266 is opened, thus movingcylinder 200 forward and permitting the actuation of bar 6 by the air throughsaidrotary valve.

Without describing, again the functioning of the switches whichrhas just been detailed "above, the mode of operation of this modification is as follows: 7

During the half-revolution of crank-shaft 204 from the most retracted position of pusher arm 2l2 with, respect to; chain 208 and the most extended position thereof with respect thereto, said arm is engaged withoneof theblocks 2| I and is moving cylinder 200 forward, the openings in valve plates 235 and 232- being out of registry. During substantially the next quarter-revolution of said shaft aperture236 and recess 231 are in registry with 'holes 238, 2 39, and 240 on the punching stroke of bar 6, and in the next quarter-revolution the said aperture and the said recess are in registry with holes 2384;, 239a, and 240a on the return stroke of said bar, during which time the exhaust air sprays said bar with lime wash, as heretofore set forth.

When one of the extra spacings of the tuyeres is reached at one of the hoops around the converter pusher arm 2| 2 engages a block 2! I and moveschain 208 forward the usual distance, the cam 256 then being in position to close the circuit through magnet 258-and operate, valve'255 to shut oh. the air supply line 262. .Arm H2 is retracted asusual thereafter, but slides forward .over chain 208, on the extending portion of its "movement, until it reaches a block 255, which it then engages and moves chain 208 forward the extradistance necessary, during which time cam 256.has moved on and spring 264 has again opened valve 265, so that air may be admitted to cylinder- 200by registry of the ports in the valve plates 232 and 24!.

The end'of the forward movement having been reached, switch'2l3 is thrown by' pin 2M to open the circuit through magnet 2l5 whereby armature 2% and the rod 2 l l fixed thereto are released and drawn back by spring 2 l9, shutting off the air from the rotary valve'by closing valve 266 and causing theengagement of the plates of clutch 2L8 through lever 226, and moving gear 220 into .nieshwithgear 22| so that chain 208 and cylinder 200 thereon are moved back. At the limit of backward-movement'of saidcylinder switch 225 is ,thrownv by block 224, so that current is cut oif from motor 201 and lever 228 is also actuated by said block to set brake 221 so that the moment of rotation of said motor, will not carrylsaid cylinder back beyond the first tuyere.

Manipulation of switch 213 by the operator, as hereinabove set forth, .starts another cycleof punching the tuyeres. V i

The purpose of four-way valves 26.5 and .266 is to permit the escape of all .air from chamber 23 and the'pipes connected thereto so that there shall be no air under pressure in the system to pass through valve 233 into .cylinder 200, as such might move punching bar 6 out sufficiently to strike against a tuyere while said cylinder is moving, withresultant damage to the mechanism. l

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a member adapted to be inserted through a tuyere of a metallurgical device, means to reciprocate said member, and means to apply to said member a substance to prevent tight adhesion of material in said metallurgical device tosaid member.

2. In a device of the class described, a member adapted to be inserted throughatuyere of a metallurgical device, means to reciprooate said member, mechanism to remove adhering matter from said member as said member is being withdrawn from said tuyre, and means to apply to said member a substance to prevent tight adhesion of material in said metallurgical device to said member.

3. In a device of the class described, a member adapted to be inserted through a tuyre of a metallurgical device, a piston on said member, a cylinder in which said piston is reciprocable, an inlet port at each end of said cylindenan exhaust port spaced from each of said inlet ports, and valve means adapted to open simultaneously an inlet port at one end and an exhaust port at the opposite end of said cylinder.

4. In a device of the class described, a member adapted to be inserted through a tuyre of a metallurgical device, a piston on said member, a cylinder in which said piston is reciprocable, an inlet port at each end of said cylinder, an exhaust port spaced from each of said inlet ports, valves disposed in opposed pairs, one valve of each pair controlling one of said inlet ports and the other valve of each pair controlling the exhaust port at the opposite end of the cylinder from the inlet port last mentioned, and means to operate the valves of a pair simultaneouslyv and the two pairs relating to each cylinder seriatim.

5. In a device of the class described, a plurality of cylinders disposed parallel and adjacent each other, a member adapted to project into a tuyere of a metallurgical device reciprocably mounted in each of said cylinders, an inlet port opening into each end of each of said cylinders, an exhaust port spaced from each of said inlet ports, a valve to control each of said ports, said valves being arranged in oppositely disposed pairs with the inlet valve for one end of each cylinder opposite the exhaust valve for the opposite end of said cylinder, the valves for a number of cylinders being mounted in a group to be operated seriatim, a pivoted arm mounted to be swingable to open each of said valves, a travelling member mounted to move between the arms for one set or" valves and the arms for those valves disposed opposite thereto, and a cam having a bevelled forward end carried on said travelling mem:

'ber adapted to move said arms to opensaid. valves.

6. In combination, a plurality of devices havarranged in opposed groups, a pivotally mounted arm adapted to swing to open each of saidvalves,

a travelling member mounted to move between said arms for said opposed groups, a cam on said travelling member adapted to swing said arms to open said valves, a lubricating pad on said trav elling member forwardly of said cam adapted to apply lubricant to said arms, and means to supply lubricant to said pad.

7. In combination, a plurality of devices having ports opening thereinto, said devices being bodily rotatable through an arc, a valve disposed tocontrol each of said ports, the said valves being arranged in opposed groups, a pivotally mounted arm adapted to swing to open each of said valves, an endless travelling member mounted to move between said arms for said opposed groups, acam on said travelling member adapted to swing said arms to open said valves, a lubricating 'pad on said travelling member forwardly of said cam adapted to apply lubricant to said arms,- means to supply lubricant to said pad when on thelower side of said travelling member comprising a troughlike portion adapted to contain lubricant when the side walls thereof are substantially vertical and a substantially enclosed portion fixed to one wall of said troughlike portion with an opening along the juncture of said enclosed portion with said well whereby the lubricant from said troughlike portion is received into said enclosed portion when said devices are rotated, and whereby said lubricant runs back to said troughlike portion when the original position is resumed.

8. In combination, a' member adapted to be passed into the tuyeres of a metallurgical device, a cylinder in which said member is recipr'ocable, a piston on said member, ports to admit fluid pressure to said cylinder, to reciprocate said member, said ports including an exhaust port which is open during the backward movement of said member, a container for substance to prevent adhesion of material in said device to. said member, a pipe connected to said exhaust port and disposed to discharge upon said member, and means to admit a portion of said substance from said container to said pipe.

9. In combination, a member adapted to be passed into the tuyeres of a' metallurgical device, a cylinder in which said member is reciprocably mounted, a piston on said member, ports to: admit fluid pressure to said cylinder, to reciprocate said member, said ports including an exhaust port which is open during the backward movement of said member, a container for a substance to prevent adhesion of material in said device to said member, a pipe connected to said exhaust port and disposed to discharge upon said member, said pipe being formed with a downwardly bowed portion, said portion being so disposed that the uppermost parts thereof are'substantially at the height of the predetermined surface level of the substance in said container, means connecting said downwardly bowed portion with said container, a sourceof supply of said substance connected to saidcontainer, and automatically acting means to control the level of the surface of the said substance in said container.

1Q. In combination, a member adapted to be passed into the tuyres of a metallurgical device, acylinder in which said member is reciprocably mounted, a piston on said member, ports to admit fluid pressure to said cylinder, to reciprocate said member, saidports including an exhaust port '15 which is open during the backward movement of 4 said member, a container for a substance to prevent adhesion of material in said device to said member, a pipe connected to said exhaust and disposed to discharge upon said member, said pipe being formed with a downwardly bowed portion, said portion being so disposed that the uppermost parts thereof are substantially at the height of a predetermined surface level of the substance in said container, means connecting said downwardly bowed portion with said container, means to agitate the substance in said container, and automatically acting means to control the level of the surface of the said substance in said container.

11. In combination, a member adapted tobe passed into the tuyeres of a metallurgical device, a cylinder in which said member is reciprocably mounted, a piston on said member, ports to admit fluid pressure to said cylinder, to reciprocate said member, said ports including an exhaust port which is open during the backward movement of said member, a container for a substance to prevent adhesion of material in said device to said member, a pipe connected to said exhaust port and disposed to discharge upon said member, said pipe being formed with a downwardly bowed portion, said portion being so disposed that the uppermost parts thereof are substantially at the height of a predetermined surface level of the substance in said container, means connecting said downwardly bowed portion with said container, pneumatic means to: agitate the substance in said container, a valve through which said substance is admitted to said container, and a ball float operatively conneotedto said valve to control the level of the surface of the said substance in said container.

12. In combination, a metallurgical device having tuyeres, means having a member adapted to be passed into a tuyere, and means to remove adhering material from said member as said member is being withdrawn from said tuyere comprising a supporting body, housings disposed to converge to the center thereof, elements having cutting portions carried in said housings, and means to force said elements outwardly from said housings.

13. In combination, a metallurgical device having tuyeres,-means having a member adapted to be passed onto a tuyere, and means to remove adhering material from said member as said member is being withdrawn from said tuyres comprising a supporting body, housings disposed to converge to the center thereof, a ball having an equatorial zone of cutting edges in each of said housings, and means to retain the balls in said housings so that the said edges are always presented to act on a member inserted between the several balls.

14. In combination, a rotatable metallurgical device having tuyeres, a supporting structure carried by the shell of said device, mechanism carried by said structure, said mechanism including a member adapted to be passed into a tuyere and means to reciprocate said member, coacting parts carried by said structure and said mechanism for detachably connecting said mechanism to said support, means to lock said mechanism to said support, and means to hold said mechanism when detached from said support on said device.

15. In combination, a rotatable metallurgical device having tuyeres, a supporting structure carried by the shell of said device, mechanism carried by said structure, said mechanism including a member adapted to be passed into the tuyere and means to reciprocate said member, locking coacting parts for detachably connecting said mechanism to said support including male members on said supporting structure, female members on said mechanism, adapted to receive said male members, a rack to hold said mechanism when detached from the support on said device, female members to receive male members on said mechanism, all of said male and female members having apertures disposed to register with apertures of the parts wherewith they coact, and simultaneously actuatable members disposed to be passed through said apertures to lock said coactingmembers together.

16. In combination with a machine having a part reciprocable by fluid pressure and a plurality of ports to admit said pressure to said machine and whereof more than one of said ports is to be opened at a time, a valve mechanism comprising a member having a duct therein for passage of fluid under pressure and an aperture through said member from said duct to the inner face thereof, means to convey said fluid to said duct, an elongated recess in the said face of said member ad-' jacent said aperture having its greater axis substantially alined with the center of the said aperture, a second member disposed against said inner face of said first-mentioned member and movable relatively to said first-mentioned member, the said second member having a plurality of groups of apertures, the apertures in each group being so disposed that one thereof will be in registry with the aperture in said first-mentioned member and the others of a group will at the same time be in registry with said recess, and means to actuate one of said members.

17. In combination with a machine having a part reciprocable by fluid pressure and a plurality of ports to admit said pressure to said machine and whereof more than one of said ports is to be opened at a time, a valve mechanism comprising a member having a duct therein for passage of fluid under pressure and an aperture in said member from said duct to the inner face thereof, means to convey said fluid to said duct, an elongated recess in the said face of said member adjacent said aperture having its greater axis substantially aligned with the center of the said aperture, a second member disposed against said inner face of said first-mentioned member and movable relatively to said first-mentioned member, the said second member'having a plurality of groups of apertures, the apertures in each group being so disposed that one thereof will be in registry with the aperture in said first-mentioned member and the others of a group will at the same time be in registry with said recess, means to actuate one of said members, and means to stop the moving member automatically at a predetermined point.

18. A device of the class described, comprising a bar adapted to be passed into the tuyeres of a metallurgical device, a cylinder in which said bar is slidably mounted, a rail on which said cylinder is slidably mounted, means to movesaid cylinder along said rail, means to hold said cylinder accurately positioned with respect to said rail, and

means to supplyfluid under pressure to said cylinder to actuate said bar.

OSCAR A. OLMS'IEAD. 

